GUI for digital audio signal filtering mechanism

ABSTRACT

Essentially all of the processing parameters which control processing of a source audio signal to produce an encoded audio signal are stored in an audio processing profile. Multiple audio processing profiles are stored in a processing profile database such that specific combinations of processing parameters can be retrieved and used at a later time. Audio processing profiles are organized according to specific delivery bandwidths such that a sound engineer can quickly and efficiently encode audio signals for each of a number of distinct delivery media. Synchronized A/B switching during playback of various encoded audio signals allows the sound engineer to detect nuances in the sound characteristics of the various encoded audio signals.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to computer filtering of digital audiosignals and, in particular, to a particularly useful user interface forcomputer filtering of digital audio signals for delivery through varioustypes of signal delivery media in a computer network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Audio signals stored in digital form have been in use for decades;however, distribution of such digital audio signals has generally beenlimited to physical distribution of tangible storage media in which thedigital audio signals are encoded. Examples include compact discs (CDs)and digital audio tape (DAT) which store audio signals representing, forexample, pre-recorded music, spoken word recordings, and sound effects.Recently, wide area computer networks such as the Internet haveexperienced tremendous growth in use and popularity. Accordingly, directdelivery of digital audio signals through such a wide area network hasbecome an alternative to, and threatens to replace, physical delivery oftangible storage media as the primary delivery mode of digital audiosignals.

Many digital audio signal filtering systems are currently available.Many such systems are used, for example, in producing a “master” signalin which various component signals, e.g., each from a separate musicalinstrument, are filtered and mixed such that the resulting master signalrepresents the artistic creation of an artist or collection ofcollaborating artists. This master signal is what is typically fixed inthe tangible storage media which is physically distributed to theconsuming public.

In direct delivery of digital audio signals through wide-area computernetworks, the master signal can be sent directly to the computer systemof a consumer. The master signal can be played directly from theconsumer's computer system through a sound card and attachedloudspeakers or can be stored on a tangible storage medium, e.g.,writeable CD-ROM, for playback using conventional CD players and analogstereo equipment. Since the master signal is digital and is the samemaster signal which would traditionally be stored in tangible storagemedia by the producer, the master signal received by the consumerthrough the wide-area computer network is of the same quality as themaster signal physically distributed on tangible storage media.

Sometimes, samples of the master signal are made available to theconsumer through the computer network for preview purposes. Such samplesare frequently streamed, i.e., delivered to a client computer systemwhile the client computer system decodes and plays the received digitalaudio signals in real time. Because of variations in bandwidth withwhich various client computer systems are attached to computer networkssuch as the Internet, such samples are frequently delivered through lowbandwidth communications media which are incapable of real-time deliveryof such digital audio signals in a native, un-compressed form.Accordingly, the digital audio signal is generally compressed andencoded to reduce the amount of data required to represent the digitalaudio signal. The digital audio signal can be transmitted throughcomputer network media in less time, requiring less bandwidth, thanwould ordinarily be required to transmit the digital audio signal in itsnative, un-encoded form. However, compression of the digital audiosignal usually results in loss of detail of the digital audio signalsuch that sound quality of a received, decoded digital audio signal istypically degraded from the sound quality of the original digital audiosignal prior to encoding and delivery through a computer network.

To mitigate the loss of signal quality as a result of such compressionor to reduce some of the annoying effects of such compression, somesound engineers apply filters to a digital audio signal to enhance theresult of compressing and encoding the digital audio signal. Forexample, in certain circumstances, emphasizing certain frequencies whilede-emphasizing other frequencies of a digital audio signal prior tocompression and encoding produces an encoded digital audio signal whichhas a more pleasant sound when decoded and played back relative to thesound of playback of a digital audio signal which is not filtered priorto such encoding. However, finding a particularly good combination offilters and encoders for a particular digital audio signal typicallyrequires application of different filters from different suppliers anditerative application of such filters with various encoders to find anoptimal combination. Furthermore, once a good combination of filters andencoders is determined for a particular digital audio signal, thecombination is often not the best combination for a different digitalaudio signal and the entire empirical selection of a good combination offilters and encoders must generally be repeated for the differentdigital audio signal.

In addition, when distributing digital audio signals through a wide areacomputer network, it is sometimes desirable to deliver the digital audiosignal within a particular amount of time. Such is desirable whenstreaming digital audio signals for real time playback. In suchcircumstances, the encoding of the digital audio signal should betailored to the particular bandwidth of the network communications mediaconnecting a particular recipient computer system with a source computersystem within the computer network. In heterogeneous computer networks,various recipient computer systems can be connected with widelydifferent bandwidths. For example, computer systems connected to theInternet are connected through network media ranging from 14.4 k modemsto dedicated T1 connections which have many times the bandwidth of 14.4k modems. Accordingly, encoding a digital audio signal for one recipientcomputer system having a particular bandwidth produces an encoded audiosignal which is unacceptable for other recipient computer systems. Forexample, encoding a digital audio signal for real time delivery througha 14.4 k modem produces an encoded audio signal in which signal qualityis unnecessarily sacrificed if the encoded signal is delivered to arecipient computer system connected to the source computer systemthrough a dedicated T1 connection. Conversely, encoding a digital audiosignal for real time delivery through a dedicated T1 connection producesan encoded audio signal which exceeds the available real-time deliverybandwidth of a recipient computer system connected to the sourcecomputer system through a 14.4 k modem.

Further exacerbating the problem is that application of a combination offilters prior to encoding to produce a reasonably good quality encodedaudio signal when encoded for a particular delivery bandwidth canproduce an encoded audio signal of unacceptable quality when the samecombination of filters is applied prior to encoding the digital audiosignal for a different delivery bandwidth. Accordingly, a newcombination of filters must be empirically determined for each deliverybandwidth for which a digital audio signal is to be encoded. Therefore,the amount of experimentation with various filters and encoders todeliver reasonably high quality signals to recipient computer systemsconnected through media of differing bandwidths can be overwhelming.

What is needed is a digital audio signal filtering and encoding systemwhich significantly simplifies the processing of digital audio signalsfor distribution through heterogeneous computer networks throughdifferent delivery bandwidths.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an audio signal processorfilters and encodes a source digital audio signal according to one ormore audio processing profiles to produce one or more encoded audiosignals. The audio signal processor includes an audio signal processingpipeline which performs all pre-processing, filtering, and encoding ofthe source audio signal to form each of the encoded audio signals. Eachaudio processing profile includes data specifying parameters of thepre-processing, filtering, and encoding. Thus, a single audio processingprofile specifies all steps in processing the source audio signal toform an encoded audio signal.

The audio processing profiles for a particular source audio signal areorganized according to specific delivery bandwidths. For example, one ormore audio processing profiles are stored in a collection of audioprocessing profiles associated with a delivery bandwidth of 14.4 kbps.Other audio processing profiles are stored in collections of audioprocessing profiles associated with delivery bandwidths of 28.8 kbps,single-channel ISDN, dual-channel ISDN, and non-real time delivery.Non-real time delivery is generally not constrained by the bandwidth ofa delivery medium. By organizing audio processing profiles according toassociated delivery bandwidth, a sound engineer can empiricallydetermine, and store for subsequent re-use, audio processing profileswhich specie particularly good combinations of pre-processing,filtering, and encoding parameters for each of a number of differentdelivery bandwidths. For example, a sound engineer can determine that aspecific combination of pre-processing, filtering, and encoding yieldsgood results for real-time delivery of recordings of a string quartetthrough a delivery bandwidth of 14.4 kbps and that a differentcombination of pre-processing, filtering, and encoding yields goodresults for real-time delivery of recordings of a string quartet througha delivery bandwidth of 28.8 kbps. By storing such audio processingprofiles, the sound engineer can quickly process, filter, and encodeother recordings of string quartets easily and quickly over both 14.4kbps and 28.8 kbps delivery media without requiring additionexperimentation. A simple name, such as “Strings 14.4” or “Strings28.8,” can be used to identify the complex combination of processingparameters stored in such an audio processing profile and can bethereafter used by the sound engineer as a shorthand notation for thatcomplex combination of processing parameters.

In addition, more than one audio processing profile can be created andstored for a particular delivery bandwidth. Thus, while the soundengineer previously empirically determined a particularly goodcombination of processing parameters for recordings of a string quartet,the sound engineer can also empirically determine a particular goodcombination of processing parameters for recordings of operas. The soundengineer can therefore create a number of audio processing profiles forvarious respective types of sound recording for each delivery bandwidthand store such audio processing profiles for subsequent use to quicklyand efficiently process additional digital audio signals of each varioustype with particularly good results. Furthermore, storage of such audioprocessing profiles allows a novice sound engineer to process audiosignals using audio processing profiles created by other, moreexperienced sound engineers. In fact, a number of audio processingprofiles can be directly programmed into an audio signal processor inaccordance with the present invention and such audio processing profilescan therefore be made available to all sound engineers who use the audiosignal processor.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the user can controlA/B switching of playback of the source audio signal and one or moreencoded audio signals. During playback of one audio signal, a graphicaluser interface receives signals from a user input device in response tophysical manipulation by the user. In response thereto, the graphicaluser interface ceases playback of that audio signal and substantiallyimmediately begins synchronized playback of another audio signal. Thetwo signals can include the source audio signal and any of the encodedsignals derived from the source audio signal and therefore havesubstantially the same sonic content, albeit pre-processed, filtered,and encoded. The playback of the second audio signal is synchronized inthat the sonic content of the two audio signals seem uninterrupted tothe user who hears the playback even though the general quality andtonal characteristics of the perceived sound will likely change when theplayback switches from one to the other audio signal. As a result, asound engineer can compare two different encoded audio signals formed bypre-processing, filtering, and encoding the source audio signalaccording to a slightly different set of process parameters stored inthe audio processing profile. By switching between playback of the twoencoded audio signals, the sound engineer can detect subtle differencesin the quality of the sound of the two encoded audio signals and canmake very fine adjustments in the processing, filtering, and encoding toachieve very good results. In addition, the sound engineer can comparethe encoded audio signal which is the end result of such fineadjustments to the source audio signal using the same A/B switchingtechnique to hear how the encoded audio signal compares to the sourceaudio signal.

Inclusion of many parameters associated with various stages in thepre-processing, filtering, and encoded of the source audio signalfacilitates rapid iterative processing of digital audio signals to morequickly achieve a satisfactory combination of pre-processing, filtering,and encoding. Since all stages of audio signal processing, filtering,and encoding affect the quality of the end result, a comprehensive audioprocessing profile which controls the processing of every stage of theprocessing pipeline allows the user to change one or more parameters ofone or more of the stages and to subsequently cause the processingpipeline to re-process each and every stage of the audio processing inaccordance with the new parameters. Thus, a sound engineer canmanipulate every step of the processing from the source audio signal tothe encoded audio signal at once and can immediately re-process,re-filter, and re-encode the source audio signal in accordance with thechanged parameters. Accordingly, the iterative process of empiricallydetermining satisfactory combinations of processing, filtering, andencoding parameters is accelerated.

These features combine to enable sound engineers to quickly andefficiently select combinations of preprocessing, filtering, andencoding parameters that yield particularly good results when encodingvarious types of digital audio signals for real-time delivery through avariety of delivery bandwidths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an audio signal processor in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an audio profile database of the audiosignal processor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a profile collection of the audio profiledatabase of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an audio processing profile of the profilecollection of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an equalization parameter field of theaudio processing profile of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a dynamic filtering parameter field of theaudio processing profile of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a computer system within which the audiosignal processor of FIG. 1 executes.

FIG. 8 is a screen view of a preview pane of the audio signal processorof FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the source audio file processed by theaudio signal processor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the header of the resulting compositeresulting audio file of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a pull-down menu by which a user selects one of a number ofaudio processing profiles according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a screen view of an audio processing profile edit window bywhich the user can configure audio signal processing parameters inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a screen view of a sample rate window by which the user canconfigure audio signal processing parameters in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 is a screen view of an equalizer window by which the user canconfigure audio signal processing parameters in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a screen view of a dynamic filtering window by which the usercan configure audio signal processing parameters in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 16 is a screen view of a watermark window by which the user canconfigure audio signal processing parameters in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a screen view of an encoder window by which the user canconfigure audio signal processing parameters in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 18 is a screen view of a block diagram of an encoder parameterfield of the audio processing profile of FIG. 4.

FIG. 19 is a screen view of a block diagram of a watermark parameterfield of the audio processing profile of FIG. 4.

FIG. 20 is a second screen view of a preview pane of the audio signalprocessor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of a mark field of the encoded audio signalof FIG. 10.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of a fade field of the encoded audio signalof FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the present invention, an audio signal processor 100(FIG. 1) filters and encodes a source audio file 102 according to one ormore audio processing profiles to produce a composite resulting audiofile 104 which includes one or more encoded audio signals 106A-E. Audiosignal processor 100 includes a processing pipeline 114 which performsall pre-processing, filtering, and encoding of source audio file 102 toform composite resulting audio file 104. Specifically, processingpipeline 114 includes a format converter 116, a sample rate converter118, an audio effects processor 120, a watermark processor 122, and anencoder 124, all of which are described more completely below. Briefly,(i) format converter 116 converts source audio file 102 from a stereoformat to a single-channel format and vice versa and can changeprecision of each sample of source audio file 102; (ii) sample rateconverter 118 converts a converted signal received from format converter116 from the sampling rate of source audio file 102, e.g., 44 kHz, to adifferent sampling rate specified by a user; (iii) audio effectsprocessor 120 performs various types of signal filtering on there-sampled signal received from sample rate converter 118, suchfiltering including input gain, low shelf, band pass, high shelf,expansion, compression, limiting, output gain, reverberation, and stereoimaging filtering; (iv) watermark processor 122 adds encodedidentification data to the filtered signal received from signalprocessor 120; and (v) encoder 124 compresses the watermarked signalreceived from watermark processor 122 into a standardized formatsuitable for delivery through a computer network for subsequent decodingand playback.

Each of mono/stereo converter 116, sample rate converter 118, signalprocessor 120, watermark processor 122, and encoder 124 process receivedaudio signals according to a number of parameters specified by a user.The particular parameters which, when used within processing pipeline114, produce the best result in terms of sound quality and requireddelivery bandwidth of each of encoded audio signals 106A-E depends uponthe amount of delivery bandwidth available and the nature of thesubstantive sonic content of source audio file 102. Accordingly, suchparameters are represented in a number of audio processing profileswhich are stored in audio profile database 110. Audio profile database110 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2.

Audio profile database 110 includes a number of profile collections202A-E, each of which corresponds to a particular delivery bandwidth.For example, profile collections 202A, 202B, 202C, and 202D includeaudio processing profiles tailored by a user for use with deliverybandwidths of 14.4 kbps, 28.8 kbps, single-channel ISDN, anddual-channel ISDN connections. Profile collection 202E includes audioprocessing profiles tailored by a user for use with the deliverybandwidth of a T1 or better connection or for non-real-time downloaddelivery in which delivery bandwidth is not a limiting concern. Profilecollections 202A-E are analogous to one another. Accordingly, thefollowing description of profile collection 202A is equally applicableto profile collections 202B-E.

Profile collection 202A is shown in greater detail in FIG. 3 andincludes a number of audio processing profiles 304A-E and a selector302. Each of audio processing profiles 304A-E specifies a number ofprocessing parameters which control the processing of source audio file102 (FIG. 1) by processing pipeline 114. The particular values ofprocessing parameters stored in each of audio processing profiles 304A-Ecan be selected for processing of a particular type of audio signal. Forexample, audio processing profile 304A can have processing parametervalues selected for optimal processing of classical music such that asmuch of the balance and clarity of the audio signal is preserved duringencoding. Audio processing profile 304B can have processing parametervalues selected for optimal processing of grunge music characterized byheavily over-saturated electrical amplification of guitars. Others ofaudio processing profiles 304A-E can have processing parameter valuesselected for optimal processing of other types of audio signalsincluding spoken word, jazz music, nature recordings, and sounds inwhich preservation of stereo channels is more important that the qualityof an equivalent single-channel audio signal. Selector 302 contains datawhich specifies one of audio processing profiles 304A-E as theparticular audio processing profile according to which source audio file102 (FIG. 1) is to be processed for delivery through the deliverybandwidth with which profile collection 202B is associated, e.g., 28.8kbps.

Audio processing profile 304A is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4.Audio processing profiles 304A-E (FIG. 3) are analogous to one another.Accordingly, FIG. 4 and the following description of audio processingprofile 304A are equally applicable to audio processing profiles 304B-E.

Audio processing profile 304A includes a number of fields, each of whichcontain a collection of data defining a particular characteristic ofaudio processing profile 304A. Specifically, audio processing profile304A includes a title field 400, a format field 402, a sample rate field404A, a conversion quality field 404B, an equalization parameters field406, a dynamic filtering parameters field 408, a watermark parametersfield 410, and an encoder parameters field 412.

Title field 400 contains alphanumeric data by which a user identifiesaudio processing profile 304A. The particular data stored in title field400 can be specified by the user by conventional user interfacetechniques and can be descriptive of the nature of processing specifiedby the parameters of audio processing profile 304A or of the type ofaudio signal yields particularly good results when processed accordingto audio processing profile 304A.

Format field 402 contains format data specifying an initial processingformat of the audio signal of source audio file 102. Such format dataincludes (i) data specifying whether format converter 116 (FIG. 1) is toproduce a mono-aural single-channel signal or a stereo, dual-channelsignal from source audio file 102; (ii) data specifying a sampleprecision; and (iii) data specifying quantization compensation effects.When processing in accordance with audio processing profile 304A (FIG.4), format converter 116 processes source audio file 102 in thefollowing manner. If source audio file 102 stores a stereo signal andformat field 402 contains data indicating that the resulting signalshould be mono-aural, format converter 116 preforms a stereo-to-monoconversion on audio source file 102 to form a mono-aural intermediatesignal. If source audio file 102 stores a mono-aural signal and formatfield 402 contains data indicating that the resulting signal should bestereo, format converter 116 performs a mono-to-stereo conversion onaudio source file 102 to for a stereo intermediate signal. Otherwise,format converter 116 performs no conversion an the intermediate signalproduced by format converter 116 is source audio file 102 in anunchanged form. Mono-to-stereo and stereo-to-mono conversions are wellknown. In one embodiment, stereo-to-mono conversion by format converter116 is accomplished by reducing both channels in gain by 3 dB andsumming the channels to produce a single, mono-aural channel.

In addition, format converter 116 converts the data word size, andprecision, of each sample of the audio signal of source audio file 102to a processing format as specified in format field 402 (FIG. 4). Inaddition, format converter 116 (FIG. 1) can dither the audio signal ofsource audio file 102 in accordance with dithering data stored in formatfield 402 (FIG. 4) to mask potentially undesirable effects ofquantization in subsequent encoding. Dithering of digital audio signalsis well-known.

Sample rate field 404A (FIG. 4) contains data specifying a deliverysample rate. When operating in accordance with audio processing profile304A, sample rate converter 118 (FIG. 1) decimates or interpolates theintermediate signal produced by format converter 116 from the samplerate of source audio file 102 to the sample rate specified by the datacontained in sample rate field 404A (FIG. 4). Decimation andinterpolation of digital audio signals are well-known.

In one embodiment, sample rate converter 118 (FIG. 1) uses a simplefilter bank sample rate conversion technique based upon rationalupsampling and downsampling ratios.

Sample rate converter 118 performs the rate conversion with a degree ofsignal quality specified by the data stored in sample rate field 404A.The result of processing by sample rate converter 118 is adecimated/interpolated intermediate signal.

Conversion quality field 404B (FIG. 4) contains data specifying adesired degree of fidelity of the decimated/interpolated intermediatesignal to the original audio signal of source audio file 102 (FIG. 1).In one embodiment, the degree of fidelity is expressed as aninterpolation filter size in which a high quality setting specifies afilter cut-off of −3 dB at a frequency of 90% of the delivery samplerate and in which a low quality setting specifies a filter cut-off of −3dB at a frequency of 70% of the delivery sample rate. The larger filterof the higher quality setting reduces the amount of noise and distortionof the decimated/interpolated intermediate signal relative to theoriginal audio signal of source audio file 102.

Equalization parameters field 406 (FIG. 4) contains data specifyingparameters of an input gain filter and a number of low-shelf, band-pass,and high-shelf filters applied to the decimated/interpolatedintermediate signal by audio effects processor 120 (FIG. 1) to producean equalized intermediate signal. Equalization parameters field 406(FIG. 4) is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. Equalization parametersfield 406 includes an input gain field 502 and fields specifying fourseparate filters. Each of the four filters includes a type field, afrequency field, a gain field, and a Q field such as type field 504A,frequency field 506A, gain field 508A, and Q field 510A, for example.Input gain field 502 contains data specifying an amount of gain to addto the decimated/interpolated intermediate signal prior to filteringaccording to fields 504A-D, 506A-D, 508A-D, and 510A-D. Each of typefields 504A-D contains data specifying one of three types of filters,namely, a low shelf filter, a band-pass filter, or a high shelf filter,for each respective one of the four filters. Each of frequency fields506A-D contains data specifying a corresponding filter frequency foreach respective one of the four filters. For band-pass filters, thespecified filter frequency is the center of the frequency band of thefilter. For low shelf filters, the specified filter frequency is theupper limit of the filtered frequencies. For high shelf filters, thespecified filter frequency is the lower limit of the filteredfrequencies. Each of gain fields 508A-D contains data specifying acorresponding gain for each respective one of the four filters. Each ofQ fields 510A-D contains data specifying the filter selectivity for eachrespective one of the four filters. The filter selectivity, e.g., asrepresented in Q field 510B, is expressed as a ratio of the centerfrequency, e.g., as represented in frequency field 506B, to a passband.For example, if the center frequency represented in frequency field 506Bis 1 kHz and Q field 510B indicates a filter selectivity of 5, thepassband for the associated filter is 200 Hz. In this illustrativeembodiment, the passband is measured at the points at which the gain is−3 dB. Data in Q fields 510A-D are ignored for respective ones of thefour filters which are not band-pass filters as indicated by respectiveones of type fields 504A-D.

Processing by audio effects processor 120 (FIG. 1) in accordance withequalization parameters field 406 (FIG. 5) includes adjusting thedecimated/interpolated intermediate signal by an amount of gainspecified by data contained in input gain field 502 and processing theadjusted signal by the four filters specified in fields 504A-D, 506A-D,508A-D, and 510A-D. The resulting signal is an equalized intermediatesignal.

When operating in accordance with audio processing profile 304A (FIG.4), audio effects processor 120 (FIG. 1) further filters the equalizedintermediate signal in accordance with parameters represented in dynamicfiltering parameters field 408 (FIG. 4) which is shown in greater detailin FIG. 6. Dynamic filtering parameters field 408 includes a bypassfield 602, a stereo link field 604, an attack time field 606, a releasetime field 608, an expander ratio field 610, an expander threshold field612, a compressor ratio field 614, a compressor threshold field 616, alimiter threshold field 618, an output gain field 620, and an outputgain makeup field 622. Bypass field 602 contains data indicating whetherfiltering according to data stored in dynamic parameters field 408 (FIG.4) is to be performed or bypassed altogether. Stereo link field 604(FIG. 6) contains data indicating whether the left and right channels ofa stereo signal should be linked. If the left and right channels arelinked, the same amount of gain is applied to both channels. Otherwise,different amounts of gain can be applied to each channel.

Attack time field 606 and release time field 608 contain datarepresenting attack time and release time, respectively, of a gainprofile applied to the equalized intermediate signal by audio effectsprocessor 120 (FIG. 1).

Expander ratio field 610 (FIG. 6) contains data specifying a first ordergain profile to be applied by audio effects processor 120 (FIG. 1) tothe equalized intermediate signal below an amplitude specified by datastored in expander threshold field 612 (FIG. 6).

Compressor ratio field 614 contains data specifying a first order gainprofile to be applied by audio effects processor 120 (FIG. 1) to theequalized intermediate signal above an amplitude specified by datastored in compressor threshold field 616 (FIG. 6) and below an amplitudespecified by data stored in limiter threshold field 618. The amplitudespecified in limiter threshold field 618, which is sometimes referred toas the limiter threshold, represents a clip amplitude such that anysamples of the equalized intermediate signal having an amplitude overthe limiter threshold are clipped by audio effects processor 120(FIG. 1) to have the limiter threshold as their amplitude.

Output gain field 620 (FIG. 6) contains data specifying a fixed gain tobe applied by audio effects processor 120 (FIG. 1) to the equalizedintermediate signal. Processing the equalized intermediate signal byaudio effects processor 120 (FIG. 1) in accordance with watermarkparameters field 410 (FIG. 4) of audio processing profile 304A producesa filtered intermediate signal which is processed by watermark processor122 (FIG. 1). Watermark processor 122 embeds identification data in thefiltered intermediate signal such that subsequent decoding of thesubsequently encoded audio signal can identify audio signal processor100 as the source of the encoded audio signal. In one embodiment,watermark processor 122 is the Electronic DNA watermarking systemavailable from Solana Technology Development Corporation of San Diego,Calif. Watermark processor 122 modulates a noise sequence dependent uponthe filtered intermediate signal using the identification data and addsthe modulated noise sequence to the filtered intermediate signal tothereby embed the identification data in the filtered intermediatesignal. The identification data can later be extracted usingconventional techniques. Watermark parameters field 410 (FIG. 19)includes a bypass field 1902, a quality field 1904, and a fidelity field1906. Bypass field 1902 contains data indicating whether the filteredintermediate signal is to be watermarked at all. Quality field 1904contains data specifying a degree of watermarking quality in terms of alevel of robustness required for anticipated noise and distortion indelivery media and subsequent playback environments. Fidelity field 1906contains data which specifies a degree of audibility of the watermark inthe resulting watermarked intermediate signal. Processing of thefiltered intermediate signal by watermark processor 122 in accordancewith audio processing profile 304A (FIG. 4) produces a watermarkedintermediate signal which is processed by encoder 124.

Encoder 124 processes the watermarked intermediate signal according toencoding parameters stored in encoding parameters field 412 (FIG. 4) toproduce an encoded audio signal. Encoding parameters field 412 is shownin greater detail in FIG. 18 and includes a data rate field 1802, acompression field 1804, an optimization field 1806, a quality field1808, an auxiliary data rate field 1810, a bandwidth field 1812, achannel coupling field 1814, a coupling frequency field 1816, a verbosemode field 1818, a bandwidth filter field 1820, a LFE filter field 1822,a LFE channel field 1824, a DC filter field 1820, a phase shift field1828, and a de-emphasis field 1830. In one embodiment, encoder 124(FIG. 1) is the AC-3 audio encoder available from Dolby LaboratoriesInc. of San Francisco, Calif. In this illustrative embodiment, thefields of encoding parameters field 412 (FIG. 18) and their use isdefined by the AC-3 audio encoder. A few of the fields of encodingparameters field 412 are described herein for completeness.

Data rate field 1802 contains data specifying the data rate, and thusthe size, of the encoded audio signal. Optimization field 1806 storesdata indicating whether audio quality it to be optimized for downloadingaudio. Audio can be downloaded by a customer on certain conditionsdescribed more completely below. Quality field 1806 stores datarepresenting a desired degree of signal quality to be maintained duringencoding of the filtered intermediate signal. Bandwidth filter field1820 contains data specifying whether a low pass filter is applied priorto encoding the filtered intermediate signal. Bandwidth field 1812contains data specifying a threshold frequency for the low pass filter.Channel coupling field 1814 contains data specifying whether left andright channels of the filtered intermediate signal are to be coupledduring encoding at frequencies about a threshold frequency representedby data stored in coupling frequency field 1816. DC filter field 1826contains data specifying whether a high pass filter is applied prior toencoding the filtered intermediate signal.

Encoder 124 (FIG. 1) encodes the filtered intermediate signal inaccordance with encoding parameters 412 (FIG. 18) in the mannerdescribed above. The result of encoding the watermarked intermediatesignal by encoder 124 is an encoded audio signal, i.e., one of encodedaudio signals 106A-E of composite resulting audio file 104.

Thus, data stored in audio processing profile 304A (FIG. 4) specifiescharacteristics of many steps of signal processing by which source audiofile 102 is transformed into one of encoded audio signals 106A-E, e.g.,encoded audio signal 106A. Such characteristics include characteristicsof stereo/mono-aural conversion, sample interpolation/decimation,various types of filtering, watermark processing, and encoding. Thepower and advantage of storing all such processing characteristics in asingle audio processing profile such as audio processing profile 304A(FIG. 4) is more fully appreciated in the context of graphical userinterface 112 (FIG. 1).

Graphical User Interface 112

Graphical User Interface (GUI) 112 facilitates user control ofprocessing by audio signal processor 100. Specifically, GUI 112 receivesuser-generated signals responsive to physical manipulation by the userof one or more user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) of a computer system 700within which audio signal processor 100 executes. Full appreciation ofthe present invention and of GUI 112 (FIG. 1) is facilitated by a morecomplete understanding of computer system 700 (FIG. 7), i.e., theoperating environment of audio signal processor 100.

Computer system 700 (FIG. 7) includes a processor 702 and memory 704which is coupled to processor 702 through an interconnect 706.Interconnect 706 can include generally any interconnect mechanism forcomputer system components and can include, e.g., a bus, a crossbar, amesh, a torus, or a hypercube. Processor 702 fetches from memory 704computer instructions and executes the fetched computer instructions. Inaddition, processor 702 can fetch computer instructions through acomputer network 770 through network access circuitry 760 such as a POTSor ISDN modem or ethernet network access circuitry. Processor 702 alsoreads data from and writes data to memory 704 and sends data and controlsignals through interconnect 706 to one or more computer display devices720 and receives data and control signals through interconnect 706 fromone or more computer user input devices 730 in accordance with fetchedand executed computer instructions.

Memory 704 can include any type of computer memory and can include,without limitation, randomly accessible memory (RAM), read-only memory(ROM), and storage devices which include storage media such as magneticand/or optical disks. Memory 704 includes audio signal processor 100which is all or part of a computer process which in turn executes withinprocessor 702 from memory 704. A computer process is generally acollection of computer instructions and data which collectively define atask performed by a computer system such as computer system 700.

Each of computer display devices 720 can be any type of computer displaydevice including without limitation a printer, a cathode ray tube (CRT),a light-emitting diode (LED) display, or a liquid crystal display (LCD).Each of computer display devices 720 receives from processor 702 controlsignals and data and, in response to such control signals, displays thereceived data. Computer display devices 720, and the control thereof byprocessor 702, are conventional.

Each of user input devices 730 can be any type of user input deviceincluding, without limitation, a keyboard, a numeric keypad, or apointing device such as an electronic mouse, trackball, lightpen,touch-sensitive pad, digitizing tablet, thumb wheels, joystick, or voicerecognition circuitry. Each of user input devices 730 generates signalsin response to physical manipulation by a user and transmits thosesignals through interconnect 706 to processor 702.

Computer system 700 also includes audio processing circuitry 780 coupledto interconnect 706 and one or more loudspeakers 790 coupled to audioprocessing circuitry 780. Audio processing circuitry 780 receives audiosignals and control signals from processor 702 through interconnect 706and, in response thereto, produces sounds through loudspeakers 790.Since the user of audio signal processor 100 selects filteringparameters in a manner described more completely below based upon subtlenuances in the tonal qualities of filtered audio signals as playedthrough audio processing circuitry 780 and loudspeakers 790, it ispreferred that audio processing circuitry 780 and loudspeakers 790 areof relatively high quality and perform with relatively high fidelity. Inone embodiment, audio processing circuitry 780 is the AudioMedia IIIsound card available from DigiDesign Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif. andloudspeakers 790 are the 20-20 bas powered loudspeakers available fromEvent Electronics of Santa Barbara, Calif.

In one embodiment, computer system 700 is a computer system which iscompatible with the PC personal computer available from InternationalBusiness Machines, Inc. of Somers, N.Y., and processor 702 is based uponthe architecture of the Pentium series of microprocessors available fromIntel Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif. In this illustrativeembodiment, computer system 700 executes, and operates under control of,the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system available from MicrosoftCorporation of Redmond, Wash.

As described above, audio signal processor 100 executes within processor702 from memory 704. Specifically, processor 702 fetches computerinstructions from audio signal processor 100 and executes those computerinstructions. Processor 702, in executing audio signal processor 100,reads digital audio signals from source audio file 102, processes andencodes those digital audio signals in the manner described above toform encode audio signals 106A-E (FIG. 1) of composite resulting audiofile 104.

GUI 112 of audio signal processor 100 presents the user of audio signalprocessor 100 with a particularly effective tool for selecting acombination of values for the audio signal processing parametersdescribed about of an audio processing profile relatively quickly withrelatively little effort. Two considerations regarding measuringrelative quality of audio signals are central to the design of GUI 112.First, each step of processing between source audio file 102 and encodedaudio signals 106A-E affects the quality of encoded audio signals 106A-Ewhen decoded and played through audio processing circuitry 780 andloudspeakers 790. Second, subtle variations in the quality of a soundare best detected when two alternative sounds are compared using A/Bswitching.

A/B switching generally refers to listening to a reproduced soundrecording which is reproduced in two alternative environments and theparticular one of the environments through which the sound is reproducedcan be quickly switched during playback without noticeable interruptionof the substantive sonic content of the reproduced sound. The followingexample is illustrative of A/B switching in a conventional context.Consider that the relative performance of two pairs of loudspeakers isbeing evaluated. In A/B switching, a sound recording such as a musicalvinyl album is reproduced by a turntable, a pre-amplifier, and a stereoamplifier to which each pair of loudspeakers is coupled through atwo-position switch which couples a selected one of the pairs to thestereo amplifier. By toggling the two-position switch, each pair ofloudspeakers can by alternately coupled to the stereo amplifier forplayback such that the pair of speakers through which the sound isreproduced changes without disturbing the continuity of the playback ofthe reproduced sound. In this way, a listener can focus on subtledifferences in the closely juxtaposed sounds produced by the respectivepairs of loudspeakers without distractions caused by discontinuity inthe sonic content of the reproduced sound, e.g., the playback of themusical piece recorded in the vinyl album.

Both complete user control of the entirety of processing from sourceaudio file 102 to encoded audio signals 106A-E and user controlled A/Bswitching during preview of encoded audio signals 106A-E combine toprovide the user with an effective and efficient mechanism by which auser can select appropriate processing parameters to produce encodedaudio signals 106A-E which can be delivered in real-time within aparticular bandwidth and which, when decoded and reproduced, accuratelyrepresents source audio file 102 to the listening user.

GUI 112 (FIG. 1) displays a preview pane 802 (FIG. 8) of a window 800 indisplay screen 722 of computer display device 720A (FIG. 7) to present auser of audio signal processor 100 with control over every part ofprocessing source audio file 102 to form any of encoded audio signals106A-E and with the ability to switch in mid-playback between playbackof source audio file 102 and any of encoded audio signals 106A-E forcritical listening in an A/B switching manner as described above. In oneembodiment, encoded audio signals 106A-E are stored in RAM of memory 704(FIG. 7) for efficient and quick access during preview of encoded audiosignals 106A-E as described in the context of preview pane 802 (FIG. 8)and are stored in persistent form within composite resulting audio file104 (FIG. 1) only when so directed by the user through conventional userinterface techniques, typically after previewing by the user iscompleted.

GUI 112 (FIG. 1) displays in preview pane 802 (FIG. 8) a representation804 of all or a selected part of source audio file 102 (FIG. 1).Representation 804 (FIG. 8) includes a left channel 820L representationand a right channel 820R representation from a starting time of sourceaudio file 102 (FIG. 1) at the left edge of representation 804 (FIG. 8)to an ending time of source audio file 102 (FIG. 1) at the right edge ofrepresentation 804 (FIG. 4). In addition, GUI 112 (FIG. 1) displays inpreview pane 802 (FIG. 8) a representation 806 of a corresponding partof a selected one of encoded audio signals 106A-E (FIG. 1), e.g.,encoded audio signal 106A. Representation 806 (FIG. 8) includes a singlechannel 822 of a mono-aural channel of encoded audio signal 106A(FIG. 1) which begins at the left edge of representation 804 (FIG. 8) atthe same time represented at the left edge of representation 802 andends at the right edge of representation 804 at the same timerepresented at the right edge of representation 802. Accordingly,representations 802 and 804 are vertically aligned.

GUI 112 (FIG. 1) enables A/B switching between playback of source audiofile 102 and any of encoded audio signals 106A-E, e.g., encoded audiosignal 106A, by synchronizing continual updates of playback statesbetween source audio file 102 and encoded audio signal 106A.Specifically, source audio file 102 includes, in addition to audiosignal content 902 (FIG. 9), a current position field 904, an endingposition field 906, and a sample rate field 908. Current position field904 contains data representing the digital sample within content 902 ofsource audio file 102. As GUI 112 (FIG. 1) plays source audio file 102through loudspeakers 790 (FIG. 7), GUI 112 (FIG. 1) retrieves the sampleof content 902 (FIG. 9) identified by current pointer field 904 andincrements current pointer field 904 to identify the next sample in ananalogous position of content 902. At the same time, GUI 112 (FIG. 1)increments a current pointer field 1092 (FIG. 10) of header 108.

The analogous position is determined by measuring in an amount of timethe offset of the next sample of content 902 (FIG. 9) as indicated bycurrent pointer field 904 in the context of sample rate pointer 908 anddetermining the sample of the content of encoded audio signal 106A(FIG. 1) which corresponds to the same time offset in the context of thesample rate of the content of encoded audio signal 106A as representedin sample rate field 404A of audio processing profile 304A. As describedabove, encoded audio signal 106A is produced in accordance withparameters of audio processing profile 304A. For example, if the nextsample of content 902 (FIG. 9) is the 44,000^(th) sample of content 902and the sample rate of content 902 is 44 kHz as represented in samplerate field 908, the time offset is one second. If the sample rate of thecontent of encoded audio signal 106A (FIG. 1) is 22 kHz, the next sampleat the analogous position within the content of encoded audio signal106A is the 22,000^(th) sample of the content of encoded audio signal106A.

Thus, the playback state of encoded audio signal 106A, which isrepresented by current pointer field 1002, is synchronized with theplayback state of source audio file 102. In other words, currentposition field 904 and current position field 1002 identify therespective samples within content 902 and the content of encoded audiosignal 106A, respectively, which represent the same sonic subjectmatter.

During playback of source audio file 102 (FIG. 1) or encoded audiosignal 106A, GUI 112 is ready to detect signals which are generated byphysical manipulation of user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) and whichrepresent a command from the user to switch from playback of one audiosignal to playback of another audio signal. In one embodiment, the userissues such a command by pressing either the up-arrow key or down-arrowkey on a computer keyboard while holding the “Ctrl” key down, generallyreferred to as a Ctrl-up or a Ctrl-down key combination, respectively.Upon detection of such signals, GUI 112 (FIG. 1) no longer retrievessamples of content 902 (FIG. 9) but instead retrieves samples of thecontent of encoded audio signal 106A (FIG. 1) beginning with the nextsample identified by current position field 1002 and sends the retrievedsamples to audio processing circuitry 780 (FIG. 7) for conversion fromdigital signals to analog signals and for production as sounds inloudspeaker 790. During such playback of encoded audio signal 106A (FIG.1), GUI 112 retrieves from the content of encoded audio signal 106A thesample identified by current position field 1002 (FIG. 10) andincrements current position field 1002. Thus, since the playback stateof encoded audio signal 106A (FIG. 1) is synchronized with source audiofile 102, switching from playback of source audio file 102 to playbackof encoded audio signal 106A does not disrupt the continuity of thesonic subject matter. As a result, the user perceives that pressing theCtrl-up or Ctrl-down key combination instantaneously switches betweenapplying conversion, filtering, and encoding of an audio signal andbypassing such conversion, filtering, and encoding of the audio signalwithout disruption of the audio signal itself. Accordingly, GUI 112presents the user with the particularly effective environment to comparesource audio file 102 to encoded audio signal 106A and to listencarefully for, and detect, minor and subtle differences between encodedaudio signal 106A and source audio file 102.

As described above, GUI 112 synchronizes the playback states of all ofencoded audio signals 106A-E during playback of source audio file 102.Glu 112 allows the user to perform A/B switching during playback of anytwo of encoded audio signals 106A-E to determine which is the betterencoding of source audio file 102. Specifically, GUI 112 receivessignals generated by the user and which designate primary and secondones of encoded audio signals 106A-E. In one embodiment, the usergenerates such signals by pressing a secondary button, e.g., theright-side button, of a pointing device such as an electronic mouse ortrackball while a cursor is positioned within display 806. Physicalmanipulation of pointing devices and the control of cursors thereby arewell-known. In response thereto, GUI 112 displays a pop-up menu or,alternatively, a dialog box in which the user can select from a list ofdescriptions or titles of encoded audio signals 106A-E primary andsecondary ones of encoded audio signals 106A-E. Pop-up menus and dialogboxes are well-known and are not described further herein. In thedescribed illustrative embodiment, the user has selected encoded audiosignals 106A and 106B as the primary and secondary encoded audiosignals, respectively.

The primary encoded audio signal, e.g., encoded audio signal 106A, isrepresented in representation 806 FIG. 8). During playback, GUI 112(FIG. 1) plays the content of encoded audio signal 106A and continuallyupdates the playback state represented in header 108 by current positionfield 1002 (FIG. 10). It should be noted that the playback staterepresented in header 108 is applicable to all of encoded audio signals106A-E. Accordingly, concurrent updating of analogous playback states ofencoded audio signals 106A-B is obviated. When the user generatessignals so directing, e.g., by pressing the Ctrl-up or Ctrl-down keycombination, GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives the signals and, in responsethereto, ceases playback of the content of encoded audio signal 106A andbegins playback of analogous content of encoded audio signal 106B inaccordance with the playback state of header 108.

In an alternative embodiment, each of representations 804 (FIG. 8) and806 can represent either the audio signal of source audio file 102 orany of encoded audio signals 106A-E and user-controlled A/B switchingtoggles between playback of the audio signal represented inrepresentation 804 (FIG. 8) and the audio signal represented inrepresentation 806 in the synchronized manner described above. The usercan select the particular audio signal to represent in either ofrepresentations 804 and 806 in the following manner. The user invokesthe selection process using conventional user interface techniques,e.g., pressing a secondary button on a pointing device such as a mouseor trackball or clicking in the particular representation with a hotkey—such as the Ctrl key—pressed. In response thereto, GUI 112 (FIG. 1)displays a pop-up menu which lists all available audio signals,including the audio signal of source audio file 102 and encoded audiosignals 106A-E. The user can select an audio signal to be representedwithin either of representations 804 and 806 from the pop-up menu. Inthis way, the user has more flexibility in selecting which audio signalsare represented in representations 804 and 086. For example, the usercan select the audio signal of source audio file 102 for display inrepresentation 806 and one of encoded audio signals 106A-E forrepresentation 804 or can select any two of encoded audio signals 106A-Efor representations 804 and 806. The user can then switch betweensynchronized playback of whichever audio signals are represented inrepresentations 804 and 806.

GUI 112 (FIG. 1) limits A/B comparison of encoded audio signals to thoseencoded according to audio processing profiles of a single one ofprofile collections 202A-E (FIG. 2) in one embodiment. Thus, a soundengine using audio signal processor 100 (FIG. 1) focuses on fine tuningaudio processing profiles for a particular delivery bandwidth and, oncea reasonably optimized audio processing profile is selected for thatdelivery bandwidth, switches context to a different delivery bandwidthby pressing any of titles 808 (FIG. 8). The sound engineer can thenfocus on fine tuning audio processing profiles for the differentdelivery bandwidth.

Thus, since the playback state of encoded audio signals 106A and 106Bare synchronized, switching from playback of encoded audio signal 106Ato playback of encoded audio signal 106B does not disrupt the continuityof the reproduced sonic subject matter. As described above, the userperceives that pressing the Ctrl-up or Ctrl-down key combinationinstantaneously switches between applying conversion, filtering, andencoding of an audio signal according to two different audio processingprofiles without disruption of the playback of the audio signal.Accordingly, GUI 112 presents the user with a particularly effectiveenvironment to compare encoded audio signals 106A and 106B and to listencarefully for, and detect, minor and subtle differences therebetween.

User Configuration of Audio Processing Profiles

GUI 112 (FIG. 1) displays in preview pane 802 (FIG. 8) a number ofpull-down menus 810, each of which corresponds to a particular deliverybandwidth which is identified by a respective one of titles 808. In oneembodiment, the delivery bandwidths with which pull-down menus 810correspond include 14.4 kbps, 28.8 kbps, single-channel ISDN,dual-channel ISDN, and unlimited bandwidth. Unlimited bandwidthgenerally refers to non-real-time downloads in which audio signals canbe downloaded for storage and subsequent playback, i.e., in whichdelivery bandwidth is not limiting.

Pressing any of pull-down menus 810 by known user interface techniquesand physical manipulation of user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) causes GUI112 (FIG. 1) to expand the pull-down menu, e.g., expanded pull-down menu1102 (FIG. 11).

Pull-down menu 1102 includes pull-down menu title 1108 and options1104A-C, each of which includes a textual title of a particular audioprocessing profile. Each of pull-down menus 810 (FIG. 8) is associatedwith a respective one of profile collections 202A-E (FIG. 2) of audioprofile database 110. In this illustrative embodiment, the one ofpull-down menus 810 corresponding to expanded pull-down menu 1102 (FIG.11) corresponds to profile collection 202A (FIG. 3). Each title ofoptions 1104A-C (FIG. 11) of pull-down menu 1102 corresponds to arespective one of audio processing profiles 304A-E (FIG. 11). Forexample, the textual title of option 1104A represents the title asrepresented in a title field 400 (FIG. 4) of corresponding audioprocessing profile 304A.

Profile collection 202A (FIG. 3) includes a selector 302 whichidentifies a selected one of audio processing profiles 304A-E as theaudio processing profile which produces the best results, as determinedby the user, when encoding source audio file 102 (FIG. 1) for deliverywithin the delivery bandwidth with which profile collection 202A (FIG.3) and expanded pull-down menu 1102 (FIG. 11) correspond. A checkmark1106 indicates to the user which of options 1104A-C correspond to thecurrently selected one of audio processing profiles 304A-E (FIG. 3) asindicated by selector 302. Pull-down menu title 1108 (FIG. 11)represents the title of the selected one of audio processing profiles304A-E (FIG. 3) as identified by selector 302, e.g., audio processingprofile 304A.

Once one of audio processing profiles 304A-E is selected by the user,the user can modify audio processing parameters as stored in theselected audio processing profile, e.g., audio processing profile 304A.The user can direct GUI 112 (FIG. 1) to initiate modification of audioprocessing profile 304A by selection of a designated option of pull-downmenus 812 (FIG. 8) or a designated one of GUI buttons 814. In responseto such direction by the user, which include signals generated byphysical manipulation of user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) by the user,GUI 112 (FIG. 1) displays an audio processing profile edit window 1202(FIG. 12), which includes the following GUI buttons: a stereo/monobutton 1204, a sample rate button 1206, an equalizer button 1208, adynamic filtering button 1210, a watermark button 1212, and an encoderbutton 1214. Audio processing profile edit window 1202 also includes atitle box 1216, a cancel button 1220, and an OK button 1218.

The user can enter textual data into title box 1216 and such data isstored in title field 400 (FIG. 4) of audio processing profile 304A. Inone embodiment, entering of a new textual title by the user indicatesthat a new audio processing profile, e.g., audio processing profile304E, is to be created. In an alternative embodiment, the user ispermitted to modify the textual data of the title of an existing audioprocessing profile, e.g., audio processing profile 304A. Specificationby the user of the various processing parameters stored in the variousfield of an audio processing profile is the same in both embodiments.Accordingly, the following description of modification of the processingparameters of audio profile 304A is equally applicable to specificationby the user of processing parameters of a newly created audio processingprofile. In addition, audio processing profiles, which are predeterminedand which are directly analogous to audio processing profiles 304A-E,are programmed directly into audio signal processor 100 (FIG. 1) and aretherefore readonly. Accordingly, the user is not permitted to modifythese predetermined audio processing profiles but can process the audiosignal of source audio file 102 according to any of the predeterminedaudio processing profiles. However, in one embodiment, the user ispermitted to copy a predetermined audio processing profile into a newuser-defined audio processing profile such that the user can furtheraugment any of the predetermined audio processing profiles.

When the user presses OK button 1218 (FIG. 12), GUI 112 (FIG. 1) storesall data entered by the user in audio processing profile edit window1202 (FIG. 12) and any data corresponding to audio processing profile304A (FIG. 4) by pressing any of GUI buttons 1204-1214 (FIG. 12) to bestored in audio processing profile 304A and GUI 112 (FIG. 1) closesaudio processing profile edit window 1202 (FIG. 12) thereby terminatingmodification of parameters of audio processing profile 304A (FIG. 4) bythe user. When the user presses cancel button 1220 (FIG. 12), GUIterminates modification of parameters of audio processing profile 304A(FIG. 4) without storing data entered by the user through audioprocessing profile edit window 1202 (FIG. 12) or any window displayed bypressing any of GUI buttons 1204-1214 in audio processing profile 304A(FIG. 4).

Pressing stereo/mono button 1204 (FIG. 12) by the user causes GUI 112(FIG. 1) to toggle the state of data stored in mono/stereo field 402(FIG. 4) between data representing stereo audio signals and datarepresenting mono-aural signals. The current state of mono/stereo field402 is represented graphically in the representation of stereo/monobutton 1204 (FIG. 12). For example, stereo/mono button 1204 (FIG. 12)graphically represents that mono/stereo converter 116 (FIG. 1) producesa mono-aural intermediate signal from source audio file 102.

When GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives signals from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) which indicate the user has selected sample rate button 1206 (FIG.12), GUI 112 displays in display screen 122 a sample rate window 1302(FIG. 13). Sample rate window 1302 includes radio buttons 1304 whichallow the user to select between low and high conversion quality. Theuser selects either of radio button 1304 by conventional user-interfacetechniques which include physical manipulation of one or more of userinput devices 730 (FIG. 7). Briefly, selection of any of radio buttons1304 by the user automatically de-selects all others of radio buttons1304. The state of data contained in conversion quality field 404B (FIG.4) of audio processing profile 304A is reflected by GUI 112 in thegraphical representation of radio buttons 1304 in accordance with radiobutton selections by the user.

Sample rate window 1302 also includes a pull-down menu 1306 from whichthe user selects one of a number of output sample rates to which samplerate converter 118 (FIG. 1) can convert an audio signal. The userselects one of the output sample rates of pull-down menu 1306 and datarepresenting the selected sample rate is stored in sample rate field404A (FIG. 4) of audio processing profile 304A. When the user presses OKbutton 1308, GUI 112 receives signals so indicating from user inputdevices 730 (FIG. 7) and, in response thereto, closes sample rate window1302 and saves in sample rate field 404A and conversion quality field404B data represented in pull-down menu 1306 and radio buttons 1304,respectively. When the user presses cancel button 1310, GUI 112 receivessignals so indicating from user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) and, inresponse thereto, closes sample rate window 1302 and reverts sample ratefield 404A and conversion quality field 404B such that data storedtherein remains unchanged.

When GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives signals from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) which indicate the user has selected equalizer button 1208 (FIG. 12),GUI 112 displays in display screen 122 an equalizer window 1402 FIG.14). Equalizer window 1402 includes a display 1404 which graphicalrepresents the gain applied to the decimated/interpolated intermediatesignal produced by sample rate converter 118 (FIG. 1) across a frequencyspectrum, i.e., represents the aggregate effect of filtering thedecimated/interpolated intermediate signal according to data storedequalization parameters field 406 (FIG. 4) of audio processing profile304A.

Equalizer window 1402 (FIG. 14) includes an input gain slider 1406 bywhich the user can control an input gain value as represented in a textbox 1412. Input gain slider 1406 includes a GUI slider 1410 which isresponsive to signals received by GUI 112 (FIG. 1) from physicalmanipulation by the user. GUI sliders are well-known. GUI 112 storesdata representing the input gain value in input gain field 502 (FIG. 5)of equalization parameters field 406.

A bypass check-box 1408 (FIG. 14) of equalization window 1402 representsthe current boolean value represented in bypass field 512 (FIG. 5) ofequalization parameters field 406. GUI 112 receives from user inputdevices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by the user and which control thestate of bypass check-box 1408 (FIG. 14) and, accordingly, the state ofdata stored in bypass field 512 (FIG. 5). A boolean true value stored inbypass field 512 causes audio signal processor 120 (FIG. 1), in formingthe equalized intermediate signal from the decimated/interpolatedintermediate signal, to forego all processing in the manner representedin equalization parameters field 406 (FIG. 5) and in equalization window1402 (FIG. 14). Conversely, a boolean false value stored in bypass field512 (FIG. 5) causes audio signal processor 120 to effect suchprocessing.

Equalization window 1402 (FIG. 14) includes four filter boxes 1414A-D,each of which corresponds to a respective one of filter fields 514A-D(FIG. 5) of equalization parameters field 406. Filter boxes 1414A-D areanalogous to one another and the following description of filter box1414B is equally applicable to filter boxes 1414A and 1414C-D. In thisillustrative embodiment, filter box 1414B corresponds to filter field514B (FIG. 5), which includes type field 504B, frequency field 506B,gain field 508B, and Q field 510B. Filter box 1414B (FIG. 14) includes apull-down menu 1416, a frequency slider 1418, a gain slider 1420, and aQ slider 1422. The user can select from pull-down menu 1416 one ofseveral types of filters, including “Low Shelf,” “Band Pass,” and “HighPass.” GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives signals generated by the user andrepresenting a selected filter types and stores data representing theselected filter type in type field 504B. Frequency slider 1418 (FIG.14), gain slider 1420, and Q slider 1422 are controlled by GUI 112(FIG. 1) in response to signals received from user input devices 730 inresponse to physical manipulation by the user to thereby controlrepresented values of data stored in frequency field 506B (FIG. 5), gainfield 508B, and Q field 510B. In this way, the user can control, throughthe GUI mechanisms provided in filter box 1414B (FIG. 14), values ofdata stored in frequency field 506B (FIG. 5), gain field 508B, and Qfield 510B. The user can therefore specify several filters applied tothe decimated/interpolated intermediate signal as represented in display1404 (FIG. 14) to form the equalized intermediate signal.

When GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives signals from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) which indicate the user has selected dynamic filtering button 1210(FIG. 12), GUI 112 (FIG. 1) displays in display screen 122 a dynamicfiltering window 1502 (FIG. 15). Dynamic window 1402 includes a display1504 which graphically represents the relationship between the equalizedintermediate signal and the filtered intermediate signal, i.e.,represents the aggregate effect of filtering the equalized intermediatesignal according to data stored dynamic filtering parameters field 408(FIG. 4) of audio processing profile 304A.

Dynamic filtering window 1502 (FIG. 15) includes a bypass check-box1506, a link check-box 1508, an attack time slider 1510, a release timeslider 1512, an expander filter box 1514, a compressor filter box 1520,a limiter box 1526, and an output gain box 1530.

Bypass check-box 1506 (FIG. 15) of dynamic filtering window 1502represents the current boolean value represented in bypass field 602(FIG. 6) of dynamic filtering parameters field 408, GUI 112 (FIG. 1)receives from user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by theuser and which control the state of bypass check-box 1506 (FIG. 15) and,accordingly, the state of data stored in bypass field 602 (FIG. 6). Aboolean true value stored in bypass field 602 causes audio signalprocessor 120 (FIG. 1), in forming the equalized intermediate signalfrom the decimated/interpolated intermediate signal, to forego allprocessing in the manner represented in dynamic filtering parametersfield 408 (FIG. 5) and in dynamic filtering window 1502 (FIG. 15).Conversely, a boolean false value stored in bypass field 602 (FIG. 6)causes audio signal processor 120 to effect such processing.

Link check-box 1508 (FIG. 15) of dynamic filtering window 1502represents the current boolean value represented in stereo link field604 (FIG. 6) of dynamic filtering parameters field 408. GUI 112 (FIG. 1)receives from user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by theuser and which control the state of link check-box 1508 (FIG. 15) and,accordingly, the state of data stored in stereo link field 604 (FIG. 6).

Attack time slider 1510 (FIG. 15) and release time slider 1512 ofdynamic filtering window 1502 graphically represent the current valuesrepresented in attack time field 606 (FIG. 6) and release time field608, respectively, of dynamic filtering parameters field 408. GUI 112(FIG. 1) receives from user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generatedby the user and which control the state of attack time slider 1510 (FIG.15) and release time slider 1512 and, accordingly, the valuesrepresented in attack time field 606 (FIG. 6) and release time field608. Attack time field 606 and release time field 608 have values withinthe ranges of 100 microseconds to 100 milliseconds and one millisecondto one second, respectively.

Expander filter box 1514 (FIG. 15) includes a ratio slider 1516 and athreshold slider 1518. Ratio slider 1516 and threshold slider 1518graphically represent the current values represented in expander ratiofield 610 (FIG. 6) and expander threshold field 612, respectively, ofdynamic filtering parameters field 408. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives fromuser input devices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by the user and whichcontrol the state of ratio slider 1516 (FIG. 15) and threshold slider1518 and, accordingly, the values represented in expander ratio field610 (FIG. 6) and expander threshold field 612, respectively. As shown inexpander filter box 1514 (FIG. 15), expander ratio field 610 (FIG. 6)and expander threshold field 612 have values within the ranges of 255:1to 1:255 and 0.0 dB to −96.0 dB, respectively.

Compressor filter box 1520 (FIG. 15) includes a ratio slider 1522 and athreshold slider 1524. Ratio slider 1522 and threshold slider 1524graphically represent the current values represented in compressor ratiofield 614 (FIG. 6) and compressor threshold field 616, respectively, ofdynamic filtering parameters field 408. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives fromuser input devices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by the user and whichcontrol the state of ratio slider 1522 (FIG. 15) and threshold slider1524 and, accordingly, the values represented in compressor ratio field614 (FIG. 6) and compressor threshold field 616. As shown in compressorfilter box 1520 (FIG. 15), compressor ratio field 614 (FIG. 6) andcompressor threshold field 616 have values within in the ranges of 255:1to 1:255 and 0.0 dB to −96.0 dB, respectively.

Limiter box 1526 (FIG. 15) includes a threshold slider 1528. Thresholdslider 1528 graphically represents the current value represented inlimiter threshold field 618 (FIG. 6) of dynamic filtering parametersfield 408. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) signals generated by the user and which control the state ofthreshold slider 1528 (FIG. 15) and, accordingly, the value representedin limiter threshold field 618 (FIG. 6). As shown in limiter box 1526(FIG. 15), limiter threshold field 618 (FIG. 6) has values within therange of 0.0 dB to −30.0 dB.

Output gain box 1520 (FIG. 15) includes a gain slider 1532 and a make-upcheck-box 1534. Gain slider 1532 and make-up check-box 1534 graphicallyrepresent the current values represented in output gain field 620 (FIG.6) and output gain make-up field 622, respectively, of dynamic filteringparameters field 408. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user input devices730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by the user and which control the stateof gain slider 1532 (FIG. 15) and make-up check-box 1534 and,accordingly, the values represented in output gain field 620 (FIG. 6)and output gain make-up field 622. As shown in output gain box 1530(FIG. 15), output gain field 620 (FIG. 6) has values within the range of12.0 dB and −12.0 dB. Output gain make-up field 622 has a boolean valueof either true or false.

Thus, through dynamic filtering window 1502, GUI 112 (FIG. 1) providesthe user with an interface for controlling the values of variousparameters represented in the fields of dynamic filtering field 408.

When GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives signals from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) which indicate the user has selected watermark button 1212 (FIG. 12),GUI 112 (FIG. 1) displays in display screen 122 a watermark window 1602(FIG. 16).

Watermark window 1602 includes a bypass check-box 1604, a qualitypull-down menu 1606, and a fidelity pull-down menu 1608 whichgraphically represent current values represented in bypass field 1902(FIG. 19), quality field 1904, and fidelity field 1906, respectively.GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user input devices 730 (FIG. 7) signalsgenerated by the user and which control the state of bypass field 1902(FIG. 19), quality field 1904, and fidelity field 1906 and, accordingly,the values represented in bypass field 1902 (FIG. 19), quality field1904, and fidelity field 1906, respectively. The set of valid values ascontrolled by quality field 1904 and fidelity field 1906 is determinedby the particular operational characteristics of watermark processor122. Bypass field 1902 (FIG. 19) has a boolean value of either true orfalse.

Thus, through watermark window 1602, GUI 112 (FIG. 1) provides the userwith an interface for controlling the values of various parametersrepresented in the fields of watermark parameters field 410.

When GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives signals from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) which indicate the user has selected encoder button 1210 FIG. 12),GUI 112 FIG. 1) displays in display screen 122 a encoder window 1702(FIG. 17).

Encoder window 1702 includes a data rate menu 1704 which is a pull-downmenu from which the user can select one of a number of encoding datarates. Through data rate menu 1704, the user controls the data raterepresented in data rate field 1802 (FIG. 18) of encoder parametersfield 412. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) signals generated by the user and which control the state of datarate menu 1704 (FIG. 17) and, accordingly, the value represented in datarate field 1802 (FIG. 18).

To control compression rate of encoded audio signal 106A as representedin compression field 1804 (FIG. 18), encoder window 1702 (FIG. 17)includes a compression menu 1706 which is a pull-down menu from whichthe user can select one of a number of encoding compression types.Through compression menu 1706, the user controls the compression typerepresented in compression field 1804 (FIG. 18) of encoder parametersfield 412. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) signals generated by the user and which control the state ofcompression menu 1706 (FIG. 17) and, accordingly, the value representedin compression field 1804 (FIG. 18).

Encoder window 1702 (FIG. 17) includes an optimization check-box 1708and an optimization quality text-box 1710 by which the user can select adegree of encoding optimization. Optimization check-box 1708 andoptimization quality text-box 1710 represent the current state of datastored in LA optimization field 1806 (FIG. 18) and quality field 1808,respectively. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user input devices 730(FIG. 7) signals generated by the user and which control the state ofoptimization check-box 1708 FIG. 17) and optimization quality text-box1710 and, accordingly, the values represented in LA optimization field1806 and quality field 1808 (FIG. 18), respectively. Specifically, theuser can control optimization check-box 1708 (FIG. 17) to toggle thevalue represented in LA optimization field 1806 (FIG. 18) betweenboolean true and false values and can control optimization text-box 1710(FIG. 17) to specify a numeric value represented in quality field 1808(FIG. 18).

Encoder window 1702 (FIG. 17) includes an auxiliary data length text-box1712 and an audio bandwidth text-box 1714. Auxiliary data lengthtext-box 1712 and audio bandwidth text-box 1714 represent the currentstate of data stored in auxiliary data length field 1810 (FIG. 18) andbandwidth field 1812, respectively. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from userinput devices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by the user and whichcontrol the state of auxiliary data length text-box 1712 (FIG. 17) andaudio bandwidth text-box 1714 and, accordingly, the values representedin auxiliary data length field 1810 and bandwidth field 1812 (FIG. 18),respectively. Specifically, the user can control auxiliary data lengthtext-box 1712 (FIG. 17) and audio bandwidth text-box 1714 to specifynumeric values represented in auxiliary data length field 1810 (FIG. 18)and bandwidth field 1812, respectively.

Encoder window 1702 (FIG. 17) includes a channel coupling check-box 1716and a coupling frequency text-box 1718. Channel coupling check-box 1716and coupling frequency text-box 1718 represent the current state of datastored in channel coupling field 1814 (FIG. 18) and coupling frequencyfield 1816, respectively. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user inputdevices 730 (FIG. 7) signals generated by the user and which control thestate of channel coupling check-box 1716 (FIG. 17) and couplingfrequency text-box 1718 and, accordingly, the values represented inchannel coupling field 1814 (FIG. 18) and coupling frequency field 1816,respectively. Specifically, the user can control channel couplingcheck-box 1716 (FIG. 17) to toggle the value represented in channelcoupling field 1814 (FIG. 18) between boolean true and false values andcan control coupling frequency text-box 1718 (FIG. 17) to specify anumeric value represented in coupling frequency field 1816 (FIG. 18).

In addition, to allow the user to further control the manner in whichthe watermarked intermediate signal is encoded by encoder 124 (FIG. 1),encoder window 1702 (FIG. 17) includes a number check-boxes 1720-1732,each of which represents and controls a respective boolean value storedin a respective one of fields 1818-1830 (FIG. 18) of encoder parametersfield 412. GUI 112 (FIG. 1) receives from user input devices 730 (FIG.7) signals generated by the user and which control the state ofcheck-boxes 1720-1732 (FIG. 17) and, accordingly, the respective booleanvalues represented in fields 1818-1830 (FIG. 18). Specifically, encoderwindow 1702 (FIG. 17) includes a verbose mode check-box 1720, abandwidth filter check-box 1722, an LFE filter check-box 1724, an LFEchannel check-box 1726, a DC filter check-box 1728, a phase shiftcheck-box 1730, and a de-emphasis check-box 1732 which represent andcontrol boolean values stored in verbose mode field 1818 (FIG. 18),bandwidth filter field 1820, LFE filter field 1822, LFE channel field1824. DC filter field 1826, phase shift field 1828, and de-emphasisfield 1830.

Thus, through encoder window 1702 (FIG. 17), GUI 112 (FIG. 1) providesthe user with an interface for controlling the values of variousparameters represented in the fields of encoder parameters field 408(FIG. 18) and therefore the manner in which encoder 124 (FIG. 1) encodesthe watermarked intermediate signal to form encoded audio signals106A-D.

Previewing Clips

GUI 112 permits the user to specify a small portion of the audio signalof source audio file 102 for processing to thereby sample audio signalsproduced by processing according to various processing parameters asstored in audio processing profiles such as audio processing profile304A (FIG. 4). Specifically, the user specifies a beginning time 2002(FIG. 20) and an ending time 2004 in representation 804B of the audiosignal of source audio file 102 (FIG. 1). Processing of the audio signalof source audio file 102 by processing pipeline 114 begins with astarting sample 2006 (FIG. 20) at beginning time 2002 and ends with anending sample 2008 at ending time 2004. Accordingly, the user focusesattention to a particular portion the audio signal of source audio file102 (FIG. 1) and avoids previewing preludes or other portions of encodedaudio signals which are of relatively little interest to the user,thereby expediting the preview of encoded audio signals in the mannerdescribed above. In addition, the time required to produce encoded audiosignals in accordance with each iterative change of processingparameters in the manner described above is significantly reduced sinceless of the audio signal of source audio file 102 is processed.Previewing is therefore further expedited.

In addition, the user can specify that a selected clip forms theentirety of the content to be encoded for a particular deliverybandwidth. As described above, each of profile collections 202A-Ecorresponds to a particular delivery bandwidth. Accordingly, the usercan associate a selected clip with each of profile collections 202A-E.Specifically, in this illustrative embodiment, the user specifies aportion of content 902 (FIG. 9) as a song and a sub-portion thereof as aclip. The distinction between songs and clips is described morecompletely below. For the particular bandwidth associated with profilecollection 202A, a song flag 306 and a clip flag 308 store dataindicating whether a song or a clip of content 902 (FIG. 9),respectively, is made available to customers through the deliverybandwidth associated with profile collection 202A. In an alternativeembodiment, the user can associate a selected clip with each audioprocessing profile, e.g., each of audio processing profiles 304A-E (FIG.3) and each audio processing profile of profile collections 202B-E (FIG.2). In another embodiment, clips are defined by the user and are usedglobally for all audio processing profiles. In this last illustrativeembodiment, the user can specify that either a song or clip or both canbe delivered through a particular delivery bandwidth. Songs and clipsare described in more detail below.

In general, audio encoded by audio signal processor 100 (FIG. 1) isdelivered in the following manner to a remote computer system operatedby a human customer. The customer requests a preview of a piece ofaudio. In response to the request, a server computer system streams aselected one of encoded audio signals 106A-E to the remote computersystem. The selected encoded audio signal is selected according to thedelivery bandwidth by which the remote computer system is coupled to thewide area network through which the server computer system delivers theencoded audio signal. In one embodiment, the customer specifies thedelivery bandwidth during a customer registration/initializationprocess. By streaming the preview audio, the customer doesn't have towait an inordinate amount of time to sample the audio content (e.g.,music) by downloading and subsequent decoding and playback. Accordingly,the customer can more quickly browse and sample various audio signals ofa large collection. If the customer elects to purchase the previewedaudio, the one of encoded audio signals 106A-E corresponding to highquality profile collection 202E is sent by the server computer systemfor downloading to the remote computer. The act of purchasing by thecustomer is less time intensive that browsing, since the customerpresumably wants very high quality audio and is willing to wait whenpaying for the audio. By contrast, during preview to browse a largecollection of audio content, the customer presumably prefers expeditiousbrowsing to maximized quality of the sampled audio signals.

Allowing the user to specify clips for each delivery bandwidth has anumber of advantages. First, the user can select a relatively smallportion of content 902 (FIG. 9) for preview by customers. First, content902 may have a length introduction which would prevent a customer fromquickly previewing the essence of content 902. Second, allowing thecustomer to preview all of content 902 can diminish the commercial valueof a higher quality purchased encoding of content 902 by providing afree, albeit lower quality, alternative. Accordingly, profile collection202A (FIG. 3) includes a download enabled flag 310 which stores dataindicating whether a customer is to be permitted to download audioassociated with profile collection 202A. Profile collection 202A furtherincludes a paid flag 312 which stores data indicating whether a customeris required to pay for downloaded audio associated with profilecollection 202A The user of audio signal processor 100 (FIG. 1)specifies the data stored in download enabled flag 310 (FIG. 3) and paidflag 312 using conventional graphical user interface techniques.

As used herein, a song is generally that portion of an audio signalwhich is commercially sold, and a clip is generally any other portion ofthe audio signal. Typically, a song is the entirety of an audio signal,and a clip is a subset thereof. Clips are defined in header 10S (FIG. 1)which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 10.

Header 108 includes a current position field 1002; an ending position1004; one or more mark fields, including mark field 1006; and one ormore fade fields, including fade field 1008. Current position field 1002contains data representing a relative time in the playback of the audiocontent represented in any of encoded audio signals 106A-E (FIG. 1). Endposition 1004 (FIG. 10) contains data representing an ending time in theplayback of the audio content represented in any of encoded audiosignals 106A-E (FIG. 1). Accordingly, encoded audio signals 106A-E havea common playback state. Relative times specified in current positionfield 1002 (FIG. 10) and ending position 1004 identify specificrespective samples in each of encoded audio signals 106A-E (FIG. 1) byuse of the sampling rate of each encoded audio signal. For example, thesampling rate of encoded audio signal 106A is specified in sample ratefield 404A (FIG. 4) of audio processing profile 304A.

Mark field 1006 (FIG. 10) represents the bounds of a song or clip and isshown in greater detail in FIG. 21. Mark field 1006 includes a song/clipfield 2102, a start position field 2104, and a stop position field 2106.Song/clip field 2102 contains data indicating whether mark 1006represents a song or a clip. From the perspective of audio signalprocessor 100 (FIG. 1), the distinction is meaningless. The distinctionis becomes important in the context of delivery of encoded audio signal106A. Start position field 2104 and stop position field 2106 containdata defining first and last samples, respectively, of the portion ofany of encoded audio signals 106A-E (FIG. 1) represented by mark field1006 (FIG. 10).

Each of the one or more fade fields of header 108 corresponds to arespective one of the one or more mark fields of header 108 andspecifies fade-in and fade-out times for the respective mark field. Forexample, fade field 1008 corresponds to mark field 1006 and specifiesfade-in and fade-out times for the song or clip represented by markfield 1006. Specifically, fade field 1008 includes a fade-in field 2202(FIG. 22) and a fade-out field 2204 which contain data representingfade-in and fade-out times, respectively, for the song or cliprepresented by mark field 1006 (FIG. 10). Thus, fade field 1008 and markfield 1006 can collectively specify a clip of content 902 which acustomer can preview.

The user can specify fade-in and fade-out times using any of a number ofgraphical user interface techniques. For example, the user can typefade-in and fade-out times using a keyboard. Alternatively, the user canspecify fade-in and fade-out times in the manner the user specifiesbeginning time 2002 (FIG. 20) and ending time 2004 as described above.When playing back a clip selected by the user in the manner describedabove with respect to FIG. 20, any fades specified by the user areincorporated into the playback so that the user can hear precisely thesample which can ultimately be delivered to customers as a sample ofcontent 902 (FIG. 9).

In addition to the advantages described above with respect to definingclips and songs for the same underlying audio content, significant spacecan be save in representing encoded audio signals 106A-E. Specifically,if song flag 308 stores data indicating that no song is available forthe delivery bandwidth associated with profile collection 202A, encodedaudio signal 106A (FIG. 1), which corresponds to profile collection 202A(FIG. 3) as described above, only includes audio content correspondingto the clip associated with profile collection 202A. Audio contentincluded in the song but not included in the clip is omitted fromencoded audio signal 106A and space is therefore conserved. The amountof space conserved depends upon the difference in size of the clip andsong and in the audio signal corresponding to content of the songexcluded from the clip. In certain circumstances, the amount of spacesaved can be substantial.

The above description is illustrative only and is not limiting. Thepresent invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

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 46. A graphical userinterface for facilitating processing of a source audio signal by anaudio signal processor to produce an encoded audio signal for subsequenttransmission of the encoded audio signal through one of a plurality oftransmission mediums selected for the transmission of the encoded audiosignal, each of the plurality of transmission mediums having one or moretransmission medium characteristics, the graphical user interfaceoperable for: receiving user input data specifying a transmission mediumselected for the transmission of the encoded audio signal; communicatingthe user input data specifying the transmission medium to the audiosignal processor; receiving an encoded audio signal from the audiosignal processor, wherein the encoded audio signal is generated at leastin part by processing the source audio signal in two or more cascadedprocessing stages according to a audio processing profile comprising oneor more processing parameters based at least in part on the one or moretransmission medium characteristics of the transmission medium selectedfor the transmission of the encoded audio signal; and displaying avisual representation of the source audio signal besides a visualrepresentation of the encoded audio signal in a manner allowing for avisual comparison of the source audio signal and the encoded audiosignal.
 47. The graphical user interface of claim 46, wherein the userinput specifying the transmission medium is received by presenting aplurality of graphical icons correspondingly identifying the pluralityof transmission mediums and receiving a user selection of at least oneof the graphical icons.
 48. The graphical user interface of claim 46,further comprising a menu for displaying user selectable menu elementscorresponding to a plurality of audio processing profiles related to theplurality of transmission mediums.
 49. The graphical user interface ofclaim 48, further operable for displaying an audio profile editingscreen in response to a user selection of at least one of the userselectable menu elements corresponding to the plurality of audioprocessing profiles.
 50. The graphical user interface of claim 49,wherein the audio profile editing screen related to the user selectedaudio processing profile comprises a plurality of processing parametermenu elements related to processing parameter data sets specifyingformat conversion processing, sample rate processing, filtering,watermarking and encoding.
 51. The graphical user interface of claim 50,further operable for displaying a processing parameter data entry screenin response to a user selection of at least one of the plurality of theprocessing parameter menu elements for further editing.
 52. Thegraphical user interface of claim 46, wherein the visual representationof the source audio signal and the visual representation of the encodedaudio signal are displayed in a synchronized manner such that samples ofthe source audio signal and the encoded audio signal relating to thesame audio content are displayed in substantial alignment to assist inthe visual comparison of the source audio signal and the encoded audiosignal.
 53. The graphical user interface of claim 46, further comprisinguser selectable user interface marking elements for marking a range ofsamples of the source audio signal for further processing.
 54. Thegraphical user interface of claim 46, further comprising user selectableuser interface marking elements for marking a range of the encoded audiosignal for representing a preview clip of the encoded audio signal fortransmission.
 55. A computer system comprising: a memory operativelycoupled to an audio signal processor; the audio signal processoroperable for processing a source audio signal in two or more cascadedprocessing stages to produce an encoded audio signal in accordance witha selected one of a plurality of audio signal processing profilescomprising processing parameter data, wherein the processing parameterdata is determined based at least in part on one or more properties ofone of a plurality of transmission mediums selected for subsequenttransmission of the encoded audio signal; and a graphical user interfaceoperable for receiving user input data specifying the processingparameter data to create the plurality of audio signal processingprofiles.
 56. The computer system of claim 55, wherein the graphicaluser interface comprises a menu for displaying user selectable menuelements corresponding to the plurality of audio processing profilesrelated to the plurality of transmission mediums.
 57. The computersystem of claim 56, wherein the graphical user interface is furtheroperable for displaying an audio profile editing screen in response to auser selection of at least one of the user selectable menu elementscorresponding to the plurality of audio processing profiles.
 58. Thecomputer system of claim 57, wherein the audio profile editing screencomprises a plurality of user selectable menu items each correspondingto a type of the processing parameter data selected from a groupconsisting of format conversion, watermarking, filtering, sample rateprocessing and encoding.
 59. The computer system of claim 58, whereinthe graphical user interface is further operable for displaying a dataentry screen related to a user selected one of the type of processingparameter data.
 60. The computer system of claim 55, further operablefor displaying a visual representation of the source audio signalbesides a visual representation of the encoded audio signal in a mannerallowing for a visual comparison of the source audio signal and theencoded audio signal.
 61. A computer readable medium useful inassociation with a computer which includes a processor and a memory, thecomputer readable medium having stored thereon instructions related to agraphical user interface for facilitating processing of a source audiosignal by an audio signal processor to produce an encoded audio signalfor subsequent transmission of the encoded audio signal through one of aplurality of transmission mediums selected for the transmission of theencoded audio signal, each of the plurality of transmission mediumshaving one or more transmission medium characteristics, the graphicaluser interface operable for: receiving user input specifying atransmission medium selected for the transmission of the encoded audiosignal; communicating the user input specifying the transmission mediumto the audio signal processor; receiving an encoded audio signal fromthe audio signal processor, wherein the encoded audio signal isgenerated at least in part by processing the source audio signal two ormore cascaded processing stages according to a audio processing profilecomprising one or more processing parameters based at least in part onthe one or more transmission medium characteristics of the transmissionmedium selected for the transmission of the encoded audio signal; anddisplaying a visual representation of the source audio signal besides avisual representation of the encoded audio signal in a manner allowingfor a visual comparison of the source audio signal and the encoded audiosignal.
 62. The computer readable medium of claim 61, wherein thegraphical user interface of claim 61 is operable for presenting aplurality of graphical icons correspondingly identifying the pluralityof transmission mediums and receiving a user selection of at least oneof the graphical icons.
 63. The computer readable medium of claim 61,wherein the graphical user interface of claim further comprises a menufor displaying user selectable menu elements corresponding to aplurality of audio processing profiles related to the plurality oftransmission mediums.
 64. The computer readable medium of claim 63,wherein the graphical user interface is further operable for displayingan audio profile editing screen in response to a user selection of atleast one of the user selectable menu elements corresponding to theplurality of audio processing profiles.
 65. The computer readable mediumof claim 64, wherein the audio profile editing screen related to theuser selected audio processing profile comprises a plurality ofprocessing parameter menu elements related to processing parameter datasets specifying format conversion processing, sample rate processing,filtering, watermarking and encoding.